By Nicolas Terashvili-Rocha
For everyday people living their lives, some things seem inevitable: the sun comes up, we brew a morning coffee, and we check the latest notifications on our phone. However, beyond the view of the average person, there exists a whole section of society that the digital world forgot to include in their updates.
In 2023, the Digital Youth Index Report found that 15% of young people do not have access to broadband at home and that two million children in the UK do not have access to a learning device, revealing that two million children do not possess the means to go home and download homework, search for revision guides or even catch up on missed lessons.
However, this is not a new trend, since the advent of the internet, exclusion has been ever-present- from computer access issues in the 2000s to modern concerns about internet access, devices, and digital literacy. Moreover, although access problems persist, the reliance on technology keeps growing, which increases the gap between those benefiting from technology and those left behind.
The issue of millions of children not possessing learning devices, although at the forefront of many people’s everyday lives, has never been adequately addressed, meaning that many children advance through their education without the ability to achieve their full potential, and many are left behind compared to the academic progress of their peers.
Furthermore, the effects of digital exclusion are not felt equally; digital exclusion disproportionately affects the most marginalised and vulnerable groups in society. The DYIR report found that amongst the two million children without access to a learning device, almost 600,000 also did not have internet access at home. This means that many affected by digital exclusion are doubly disadvantaged, further widening the divide. Additionally, access to remedies is not equally distributed, with poorer, rural communities finding it harder to get help and support compared to urban areas.
According to a Communications Digital Committee report by the House of Lords in 2023, seven million households in the UK have no internet access, five million workers will be acutely under skilled by 2023, and four million people are unable to complete basic tasks such as getting online and opening an internet browser. The report also highlighted how basic digital skills are a key factor in social mobility among young people. For many of the poorest in society, lacking these skills makes it more likely they will remain impoverished and struggle to find employment, perpetuating a cycle of oppression.
The effects of digital exclusion on young people were starkly felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the public health situation in jeopardy, stringent lockdown rules were put in place, and schools, along with many services, moved online. As a result, many children who lacked learning devices and the ability to join online classes were deprived of one of the most fundamental goods: education. During lockdown, many marginalised youths were not only unable to access education but also suffered social isolation and psychological harm, feeling unstimulated, trapped indoors, and unable to connect with friends or the outside world. The COVID-19 pandemic was a harsh example, and a reminder of the severe effects that digital exclusion can have on British youth.
On 15th October, Fearless Youth Association hosted a Get Online event in collaboration with the local community to combat this exact issue: digital exclusion. At this event, we distributed free devices, held interactive workshops and tutorials, and provided digital skills support to help people learn how to get online. During the event, we conducted a survey assessing the impact of technology on people’s lives and noticed some interesting positive trends and attitudes towards digital inclusion. When asked how the internet affects job prospects, participants responded that it enabled more job opportunities and made finding employment easier. Participants also noted that the internet allowed them to learn new things and interact with their families more often.
60% of respondents to our survey reported having either no or weak internet access. Unfortunately, it is clear that the problem of digital exclusion is still alive and well, and more initiatives are needed to combat it.
In conclusion, we see that the challenges of digital exclusion persist even today, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable in society. Without support and intervention, digital exclusion remains a self-perpetuating issue. What can we do? Pressure needs to be put on governments and local councils for their inaction, and the voices of the most marginalised must be heard. For example, the CDC report found that the government had “no credible strategy” to tackle digital exclusion. Corporations should also play their part by providing affordable tech and supporting charitable causes. Finally, we should encourage community-led efforts to help people in our local areas through initiatives like those hosted by FYA. With action at all levels, it is possible to alleviate the harm of digital exclusion and improve the lives of the poorest in society.
Referenced sources:
CDC Report – https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5803/ldselect/ldcomm/219/219.pdf
Digital Youth Index Report – https://digitalyouthindex.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Digital-Youth-Index-2023-report.pdf
